Reversible loop cutter type longwall miner



J. F. JOY

REVERSIBLE LOOP CUTTER TYPE :LONGWALL MINER Filed March 7, 1951 Jan. 10,1956 5 Sheets-Sheet l f H 0 /w M M 0 o 7 WW 7 A m J Jan. 10, 1956 J. F.JOY

REVERSIBLE LOOP CUTTER TYPE LONGWALL MINER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 & /7

I I/// //////l ///////77 Filed March 7, 1951 E I) I I 77 Jan. 10, 1956J. F. JOY

REVERSIBLE LOOP CUTTER TYPE LONGWALL MINER Filed March 7, 1951 5Sheets-Sheet 3 QM m Jan. 10, 1956 Filed March 7, 1951 J. F. JOY

REVERSIBLE LOOP CUTTER TYPE LONGWALL MINER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 v...I/AIIITIIIIIIIIIII c/OSfPH l'I'c/OX MAL 04.

TTOFINEX REVERSIBLE LOOP CUTTER LQNGWALL Joseph F. Joy, Pittsburgh, Pa.,assignor to Joy Manufactuning Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation ofPennsylvania ApplicationMarch 7, 195 1,\Serial No. 214,242

21 Claims. (Cl. 2.62--30) This invention relates to mining machines andmore particularly to a coal mining machine of the reversible loopcutter, longwall type, especially designed for use in mining coal from alongwall coal face and for loading the loose coal onto a face conveyor.

In the mining of coal from a longwall face. of' a coal seam it isdesirable to make the mining machine reversible so that the coal may. bemined from the 'face in either direction and without the need forturning the complete machine around after each out. By the provision ofa reversible type of mining machine the machine may operate along theface in one directionand at the completion of the cut the machine may beadvanced toward the face and then fedacross the face in the opposite,direction, thereby substantially to reduce the time and effort consumedin the mining operation. The present invention contemplates improvementsover known types of longwall mining machines in that a long wall miningmachine is provided capable of accomplishing the desired functions andembodying not only means for mining the coal from a solid coal seam butalso means for conveying and loading the mined coal, thereby completelyto eliminate the need for blasting with explosives and the inherentdangers resulting therefrom. The mining machine of. the presentinvention hasa pair oiidenticaLfbut. oppositely disposed, loop cutter.chains adapted ,tobe driven at relatively different speeds so'tha't oneof the chains mayoperate as a cutter chain whilejthe other operates as aconveyor chain, irrespective ofthe direction of travel of the machinealong the coal face. The, machine is relatively compact andrugged indesign, well adapted for its'intendedpurpose.

An object of 'the.present'invention isto provide an in proved miningmachine embodying improved features Of construction and design. 'Anotherobject is:to, provide an improved coal mining machine of thereversible,longwali type adapted to operate in either directiongalongthe coal faceWithout the necessity for complete turning of the machine'aroundat'the'end of each cut. A'further. object is to provide an improved coalmining rnachinehaying improved cutting means and associated .eonveyingmeans whereby the coal may be removed from a solid coal seam andconveyedaway fromthe coal-face. A still jiurther object is to provide animproved coal mining machine adapted to operate in the relativelyrestricted spaceibetween the longwall coal-face and a face.conveyordaidon the mine floor in parallelism withithecoaiiace andhaving improved meansfor dislodging the coal from the -,solid coal seamand for conveyingthe dislodged coaljfor lateral discharge ontothe faceconveyoig, "Still another object is to provideran improvedrcoal miningmachine of the reversible loop cutter andconveyortype, for. cutting, acore of coal from a solid coal seam, for dislodging-fragments of thecore as cutting'progresses-and for loading the dislodged coal in eitherdirection along alongwal-Ffiace and all in a substantially continuousmanner. A further object istto provide an improved reversible longwalltype loop cutter-embodyingan. endless loop type cutter chain who! nitedStates Patent by said cutter chain may operate either at a relativelyhigh speed to effect cutting of the coal or at a relatively low speedtoeiieet conveying of the dislodged coal. A still further object is toprovide an improved loop type longwall reversible mining maehine havinga pair of endless cutter carrying chains-which may selectively operateeither as a cutter chain or a conveyor chain depending upon thedirection of movement ofthe machinealong the coal face. Another objectis to provide improved endless loop type cutting and eonveying'means;which is adjustable in height thereby to enable operation of the machinein mines havingveinsofvaryingheights. Yet another object is to providean improved coal mining machine having novel combinations andarrangementsof parts. These and other objects-and advantages of theinvention will hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings thereis shown for purposes of illustrationone -forrn which the invention may assume in-pract-iee.

In these drawings-2 Fig, 1 is a plan view of a coal mining machineconstructed in accordance with a preferred illustrative embodiment ofthe invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross section taken midway between the ends armsmachine on line 2-2 o f Fig 1, showing the adjustable b a r structurefor the endless loop cutter and conveyor ehains.

Fig. 3 is a'vertical section taken substantially on the planes ofline 33of-Fig. 2.

Fig. t'is a horizontal section through the coal miningmachine showniu'Fig; l-, the view taken substantially in theplanes of line 4--4 oiFig. 2.

Figs. 5 and 6 are detail sections illustrating the loop cutterchain.

*Fig. 7 is a cross section taken online 7-7 of Fig. 4, showing theconveyor chain loading the dislodged coal onto the face conveyor.

Fig. 8 isadet-ai-l viewshowing the core breaker device mountedonthecutter: chain.

Fig/9 i-s a-detail seeti'on taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

g. I-Ois -a=detail--sectiontaken-on line 1Q-10 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 1-1 is a cross section-taken on line 11*11 of 4, showingtheloop'cutter chain and core breaker.

Fig. 11 2 is a diagrammatic view showing the machine operating trom iefttom-ight along a longwall coal face of a coal-mine. I

"The invention relates to a mining machine which, as shown'in-"thedrawings is of-the reversible longwall type, but it -willbe evidentthat'yarious features of the invention maybe embodied in-mining machinesof other types.

The-miningmachine generallycomprises. a elongated relativelyna-rrowmachine frame or body 1 of generally rectangular shape, provided with ,asmooth bottom surface 2" adapted to rest upon and slide over the floorof a mine. Projecting laterally f rom the face-side of the machineframe, substantiallymidway between th nds thereof is a loop-shaped guideframe or guide. bar 3 about which endless loop-type cutter'and conveyorchains 4 and 5 are guided top: onbital circulation. Either'loop chainmay operate as acutter chain or a conveyor chain depending uponthedirection-of operation of the mining machine along-thelongwali coalface, and identical mo: tors 6 and 7', desirably electric motors carried'by the machine frame near its oppos-ite ends, operating in unison andserving to drive the cutter and conveyor chains through change speed-gearings generally designated 8, whereby the chain which is serving asthe cutter chain may be driven at a relatively high-cutting speed andthe chain which is -.sorving :as the conveyor chain may be driven at arelatively low conveying speed.

The/feeding means;=for the machine may'assume various forms; but herein,illustrative purposes, comprises a 3 pair of feed sprockets 9respectively driven by the motors and disposed on parallel vertical axesand arranged to engage a feed chain 10 which is guided with respect tothe feed sprockets by.suitable idlerv-sprockets11, and this feed chainhas. flexible portionswhich extend in opposite directions longitudinallyfrom the machine frame in parallelism with the coal face and areanchored at their remote extremities by suitable roof jacks so that whenthe sprockets are suitablyv driven the machine may be fed bodily alongthe chain in one direction or the other. A conventional face conveyor 12having an endless conveyor chain 12' is laid on the mine floor inparallelism with the coal face at the outer side ofthe machine frame inthe manner shown. The loop-shaped guide frame or bar for the cutter andconveyor chains is, as shown in Fig. 2, adjustable in .heightand-consists of a generally U-shaped outer frame structure 13 comprisedof cooperating frame sections14 and 15 having topand bottom leg portions16 and 17 and outer upright portions-18 and 19providing the connectionbetween the leg portions of the U. The upright frame portion 19 has avertical guideway 20 which slidingly receives a portion 21 secured totheupper frame portion 18 whereby the upper frame portion may be adjustedina vertical direction relative to the bottom frame portion. The lowerframe portion 17 is suitably rigidly secured at 22 to the machine frameand .the upper adjustable portion is secured at 23 to sliding blocks 24(Figs. 2 and 3) guided for vertical adjustment along vertical guides 25secured to the machine frame. A vertical plate 26 at the inner side ofthe machine frame extends longitudinally through the open center 26' ofthe chain guide frame or bar, and pivotally mounted at 27 on lugsintegral with the inner side of the plate is an upright hydrauliccylinder 28 containing a reciprocable piston 29 having its piston rod 30extending upwardly through the packed upper head 31 of the cylinder.This hydraulic cylinder is arranged within a rectangular recess 32formed vertically within the machine frame, as shown in Fig. 4, and thepiston rod is secured at its upper end at 33 to a frame 34 integral withthe sliding blocks 24 and to which the upper frame portion 16 of thechain guide frame is secured.

Thus, when liquid under pressure is supplied to the lowerend of thecylinder beneath the piston the latter may be moved upwardly to vary theelevation of the upper frame portion 16 relative to the lower frameportion 17 thereby to vary the cutting height of the machine toenablethe operation thereof in coal seams of varying height.

As shown in Fig. 4, the U,-shaped chain guide frame or bar 3 hasguideways 35 at its oppositesides, and-in which the cutter and conveyorchains-4 and -5 'are"respectivcly guided for orbital circulation. Thechains pass around drive sprockets-36'and in order to maintain thechains under the proper tension in all-positions-of adjustment of thechain guide frame there are provided suitable guide rollers 37, 38 and39 about which-the chains pass, as shown in Figs. 7 and 11. The guiderollers 38, as shown in Fig.4, are journaled at 40 on bearings supportedby aligned longitudinally extending horizontal shafts 41 supported bythe sliding blocks 24, and the guide rollers 37 and 39 are journaled at42 on bearings supported by aligned shafts 43 arranged in parallelismwith the shafts 41 and respectively supported by the upper and lowerframe portions 16 and 17 of the loop-shaped chain guide frame. By suchan arrangement of the guide rollers with respect to the drive sprockets,the cutter and conveyor chains are maintained under the proper tensionirrespective of the adjusted height of the guide frame. As shown inFigs. 3 and 4, the drive sprockets and the guide rollers are arranged inpairs in coaxial relation at the opposite sides of a transverse verticalplate 44 forming the portion of the machine frame to which the verticalguides 25 are secured. The endless cutter and conveyor chains 4 and 5are arranged to circulate within spaced chambers 45 formed within themachine frame at opposite sides of this vertical plate 44. The innerlongitudinally extending vertical plate 26 is formed with suitableopenings 46 (Figs. 7 and ll through which the endless chains pass. Themachine frame is recessed at 47 at its outer lower side in such manneras to provide a space for the face conveyor 12 and the outer sides andbottoms of the chambers 45 open at 48 and 49 respectively towards theface conveyor 12 so that any loose coal or other material conveyedoutwardl'y by the cutter and conveyor chains may discharge onto the faceconveyor. To direct the loose coal or other material over the side ofthe face conveyor near to the machine frame, as shown in Figs. 7 and 11,the lower portion of the machine frame is upwardly inclined at 50 andthe conveyor frame has a side frame 51 which has an inclined portion 52which underlies the frame portion 50. Thus, the loose coal or othermaterial may be moved upwardly and outwardly along the inclined portion52 for discharge onto the endless conveyor 12.

Either .ofthe endless chains 4 and 5 may serve as a cutter .chain or aconveyor chain depending upon the direetion of-movement of the machinealong the coal face and-these chains are adapted to be driven in thesame direction and at relatively different speeds, as mentioned above,through the change speed gearings 8. As shown in Fig. 4, the motors 6and 7 have longitudinally extending horizontal, motor shafts 55 to theinner ends of which spur pinions 56 are secured, and these pinions meshwithlarge spur gears 57 having their hubs splined at 58 to alongitudinally extending horizontal shaft 59. The shaft 59 is supportedin end bearings 60 and a centrally located bearing 61 and these bearingsare suitably supported within the machine frame. Splined at 62 to theshaft 59 are gears 63 having integral shifter elements 64, the latterhaving clutch teeth 65 engageable with clutch teeth 66 formed withintubular sleeves 67 suitably journaled on the shaft 59. The gears 63 aremovable into meshing engagement with the teeth of gears 68 having theirhubs secured to horizontal shafts 69 herein arranged parallel with theshaft 59 and suitably journaled in bearings 70 supported within theframe of the machine. Secured to the shafts 69 are spur pinions 71meshingwith spur gears 72 herein formed integral with the sleeves 67.The chain drive sprockets 36 are keyed at 73 to the sleeves 67. When theright hand shifter element 6.4 is in the position shown in Fig. 4, withthe clutch teeth 64 in engagement with the clutch teeth 66, the endlesscutter chain 4 may be driven at a relatively high speed from the motor 7through the spur gearing 56, 57, shifter element 64 and the sleeve 67,and when the left hand shifter element 64 is in the position shown inFig.

4 the endless conveyor chain 5 may be driven at a relatively. low speedfrom the motor 6 through spur gears 56, 57, spur gears63 and 68, shaft69 and spur gears 71 and 72.v Evidently, when the machine is operatingin the opposite direction theendless chain 5 which then acts as thecutter chain may be driven at a relatively high speed and the endlesschain 4 which then acts as the conveyor chain may be driven at arelatively low speed simply by changing the positions of the shifterelements 64. The

shifter elements 64 are engaged by conventional shifter yokes, notshown, which are operated by suitable hand levers 75 convenientlylocated exteriorly of the machine frame as shown in Fig. l.

The feed sprockets 9 of the machine feeding means may be driven from themotors 6 and 7 respectively through gears 77 (Fig. 4) meshing with themotor pinions 56 and keyed to horizontal shafts 78 herein arrangedparallel with the shafts 59 and 69 and suitably journaled within thebearings 79 supported within the machine frame. Rotatable with theshafts 78 are beveled gears 80 meshing with beveled gears 81 (see alsoFig. 3) secured to vertical shafts 82 journaled in bearings 83 suitablysupported within the frame of the machine. Splined at 84 to the shafts82 are clutch shifter elements 85 engaged by shifter yokes 86 secured tovertical sliding operating shafts 87 having handles88 convenientlylocated at the top o'f-the machine frame (Fig. 1 The clutch elements 85have clutch teeth 89 engageable with clutch teeth 90 formed on shafts 91to which the feed sprockets 9 are secured. These shafts 91 are arrangedcoaxially with the shafts 82 and are suitably journaled in bearings 92supported within the machine frame. Thus, the feed sprockets 9 may bealternately driven from the'motors 6 and 7 through the spur gears 56',7.7 and beveled gears 80 and 81, thereby to effect feed of the machinein either of opposite directions without reversing the motors.

As shown in Fig. 1, conventional hydraulic hand pumps 95 operated byhand levers 96, are arranged at the opposite ends of the machine'framefor supplying liquid under pressure to the hydraulic cylinder 28 forchanging the height of the chain guide frame or bar 3 on which thecutter and conveyor chains are guided. Liquid trapped in this cylinderserves to lock the guide frame in adjusted position. Evidently, thepumps may be motor driven, if desired.

A transposable cuttings deflector or guard 9f7'is attach able, as byscrews 9'8, selectively in reversed positions with respect to the outerwalls of the chambers 45 in which the cutter and conveyor chainsoperate, so as to confine the loose material dislodged from the minevein in the path of the conveyor chain during either direction of travelof the machine. This deflector extends outwardly in parallelism with theguide frame 3 at the trailing side thereof. As shown in Fig. '3, thisguard has'rel'a! tively inclined, angle portions, 99 and .100; with onepor-. tion attachable to the vertical sidewall of: the frame and theother portion extending outwardly toward the com veyorchain intoadjacency with the miuefloor. The reversed position of the deflector.is' indicated; inadottcd: lines in Fig. 3.

Now referring to the detail structure of .the endless chains 4 and 5 andtheir associated breaker :devices, it will be noted that each chaincomprises, asshown in Figs. 5 and 6, a series of multiepart chain blocks103. pivotally connected by strap links 104. 'Eachblock come prises anouter side link portion 1.05'-havi ng---parallel hinge pins 1% integraltherewith,.andthe'inner ends: of these pins are engaged by an innerlink'portion'lM held thereon by nuts 1% threaded on the re .uced inner.end por tions of the hinge pins. The hinge pins haveinnershoulzders 199which are engaged by the inner link-portionlIO'Z to maintain the inneriink portion inspaced parallelism with the outer link portion, and thestrap links project between these parallel block portions andrespectively pivotally engage the hinge pins. Formed; integral with theouter link portions 105 are lateral lugs 110 having sockets 111 forreceiving cutter-bits; 1,;12. These cutter bits have relatively inclinedcutting portions 1213 provided with wear-resisting cutting tips 114, andthe rear side of the bit has a central projection 1 15 provided withopposed abutment surfaces 116 engageable with the outer surface of theblock lug in the reversed positions of the bit of the block, tomaintain; the proper bit gauge. A conventional set screw 117, threadedwithin the block lug, engages the inactive cutting portion of the bit tohold the latter firmly in position on theblock with the active cuttingportion 113 extending outwardly and forwardly, as shown in Pig. 5. Thesocketerl block lugs-are arranged in relatively inclined positions onthe different chain blocks, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 so as to'provideproper lacing of the cutter bits to enable cutting 'of a kerf ofsufficient width to receive the guide frame or bar 3. Since this cutterchain structure is being disclosed and claimed in a copendingapplication, Serial No. 217,332. filed March 23, 1951, further detaileddiscussion thereof is herein considered unnecessary. The barguidewaysfis are-f generally T-shape in cross section, as shown in Fig.6, and the strap links have lateral gihs 118 which underlie inwardprojections 119 on the .bar, toretain the, chains within the guideways.The outenfianges 1.19 .Qf

therstrap. links ride against the-cuter:snrface of the bar, thusproviding wide bearing-surfaces.

The core breaker device associated with the cutter chain comprises abreaker plate which is pivotally mounted on a screw 121threadedlyzsecured at 122 within a threaded opening formed inione of thehinge pins of the outer link portion .105. A screw 123 threaded at 124within :the threaded, opening in the adjacent hinge pin. of the outerlink portion passes through an arcuate slot 125 in the breaker plate,and this screw 123 when tightened serves to hold the breaker platefirmly in position on the chain block. Projecting laterally inwardly ofthe breaker plate is a cam-shaped breaker portion 126 which isengageable with the core of coal formed by the loop cutter chain atperiodic intervals to effect breaking down or dislod'ging; of the core.By loosening the screw 123 the breaker plate maybe swung into differentangular positions aboutv its pivot and thereafter be again clamped intoposition thereby to enable variation in the projection. of the camportion1-26 with respect to the inner side of the cutter chain. Asimilar breaker device is mounted on the conveyor chain but during theconveyingoperation isnot in use.

The. general mode of operation of the improved mining machine is asfollows: As shown somewhat diagrammatically in Fig. 12, a longwall coalface 130 extends transversely between parallel mine passageways orso-called roadways 131 and 132 and the face conveyor 12 extends inparallelism with .the coal face between these roadways with itsdischarge end overlying a conventional main haulage conveyor 133, whichmay be a shaker conv yor, arranged longitudinally in the left handroadway 131:, The mine roof outwardly beyond the face con vcyor issupported bywalking .type roof jacks 134 and as the mining machineoperates .to'mine out the coal the roof jacks at the rear side of themachine are advanced into the positions shown to support the roof. InFig. 12 he mining machine isshown operating from left to right nd. theflexible portions of the feed chain 10 are extended in oppositedirections from the machine'toroof jacks: and 21:35d0fiatfid near theouter walls of the roadways. The front cutter chain 4 is sumped into theend of the, coal .face at the inner wall of the left hand roadway 131and as the machine is fed across the face the eutterchain cutsjout .acore 'of coal and as the core is-formed the breaker cam 126 on thecutter chain periodicallyappliesa breaking down'pressure'to the core'ofcoal formed-by the cutter chain (see Fig. 11). The core of coal as it isbroken into fragments and dislodged from the solid coal seam isvreceived-by-the'rear conveyor chain 5, asshown in Fig; 4, and isconveyed outwardly from the-coal face through the bottom of the machineto discharge onto the-face-conveyor 12 in the manner shown in Fig. 7.The active cutter chain is driven by both motors at a relatively highspeed and the'rear conveyor chain is driven by both motors at arelatively low speed. The breaker device may, if desired, be removedfrom the conveyor chain during the conveying operation. The machine as.it moves across. the face, it mines and loads out the coal, and when themachine moves into the right hand roadway and the cut is completed, themachine and the face conveyor are advanced bythe walking jacks towardthe face. The clutch shifter members 64 may then be shifted toconnectthe chain 5,, which previously served as the conveyor chain, to the highspeed drive gearing driven by the motors 6 and 7, and the chain .4,which previously served as the cutter chain, is connected tothe lowspeed drive, and the feed is then reversed by disconnecting the thenactive feed sprocket from its drive and connecting the other feedsprocket to its drive. The machine is then fed from right to left acrossthe coal face to mine and load out the coal. As the machine. andconveyor areadvanced, the walking jacks 3 are advanc d tocpw id a q tesupp t he roof, and themine roof at the: rear sides of the. roof jacks 7is allowed to subside, as shown at 136 in Fig. 12. Thus, by repeatedrectilinear. movements of the machine back and forth across the coalface, with intermediate advances of the machine and conveyor, the solidcoal between the roadways may be completely mined out, in a relativelyrapid and efiicient manner.

As a result of this invention an improved mining machine is providedhaving improved reversible cutting and conveying means whereby the coalof a solid coal seam may be mined out and loaded in asubstantiallycontinw ous manner and without the need for dangerousblasting with explosives. By the provision of the endless cutter andconveyor chains, and the plural speed drives for the chains, wherebythey may be selectively driven at relatively different speeds, eitherone of the chains may operate as a cutter chain or as a conveyor chain,depending upon the direction of machine movement across the coal face.The loop cutter chain forms a core which is cut from the solid coal andthe breaker device on the cutter chain applies periodically powerfulbreaking down pressures to the core to dislodge fragments of' the coreas cutting progresses and the conveyor chain receives the dislodged coaland conveysit away from the coal face. By the provision of'thereversible cutting and conveying means the machine may mine and dislodgecoal along a long'wall coal face and the direction of movement of themachine may be readily reversed at each end of the coal face without theneed for completely turning the machine around thereby greatly reducingthe time and effort consumed in the mining of the coal. By the provisionof cuttinga'nd conveying means which are adjustable in height themachine may be accommodated to coal seams of varying heights. These andother objects and advantages of the invention will be clearly apparentto those skilled in the art.

While there is in this application specifically described one form whichthe invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that thisform of the sameis shown for purposes of illustration and that theinvention may be modified and embodied in various other forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a mining machine of the character disclosed, a guide bar having anopen center and providing guideways at its opposite sides, endless loopcutter carrying chains guided for orbital circulation along theguideways of said guide bar and carrying cutting elements, one of saidloop cutter chains disposed on said guide bar in advance of the other,and motor operated driving means for said chains for driving the advanceone of said chains at a relatively high cutting speed to cut the mineralof a solid mine vein and for driving said other trailing chain at arelatively low conveying speed for conveying the loose mineral dislodgedfrom the previously-cut mine face in a lateral direction out of themachine-path.

2. In a mining machine of the character disclosed. cutting mechanism forcutting mineral from a solid mine vein and including an endless looptype cutter chain, conveying mechanism including an endless loop typeconveyor chain, said cutter chain disposed in advance of said conveyorchain, means for guiding said chains for circulation in similar butparallel orbits, motor operated means for driving said advance cutterchain at a relatively high cutting speed for cutting the mineral of asolid mine vein, and motor operated means for driving said trailingconveyor chain at a relatively low conveying speed for conveying theloose mineral dislodged from the previously-cut face in a lateraldirection away from the face.

3. In a mining machine of the character set forth in claim 2 whereinsaid motor operated driving means for said chains includes a pair ofinterconnected driving 8 motors operating in unison and common to thedrive of both chains.

4. In a mining machine of the character set forth in claim 2 wherein themachine is reversible and may operate in either direction along the faceof a mine vein, said motor operated driving means for said chainsincludes a multi-speed drive individual to each chain for effectingdrive of the same at either a cutting or a conveying speed.

5. In a mining machine of the character disclosed, a body movable ineither of opposite directions along the face of a mine vein withoutturning around of said body, a generally loop-shaped guide framesupported by and projecting from said body and having guideways at itsopposite sides one disposed in advance of the other, endlesschainsguided for orbital circulation along said guideways respectively andeach carrying cutting elements, and mechanism carried by said body fordriving either of said chains at relatively different speeds wherebyeither chain may operate as a' cutter chain or as a conveyor chain, theadvance chain traveling at a relatively high cutting speed and operatingas a cutter chain and the trailing chain traveling at a relatively lowconveying speed and operating as a conveyor chain, irrespective of thedirection of movement of the machine.

6. In a mining machine of the character disclosed, a body movable ineither of opposite directions along the face of a coal seam, a generallyloop-shaped guide frame projecting laterally from said bodysubstantially midway between the ends of said body, said guide framehaving guideways at'its opposite sides and provided with an open center,endless loop chains guided for orbital circulation along said guidewaysrespectively and each carrying cutting elements, and motor operatedmechanism carried by said body for driving either of said chains atrelatively different speeds whereby either chain may operate as a cutterchain or as a conveyor chain depending upon the direction of movement ofsaid body along the coal face.

7.' In a mining machine of the character disclosed, a body movable alongthe face of a mine vein, a movable cutter supported by and projectingfrom said body for cutting the mineral of a solid mine vein, a movableconveyor supported by and projecting from said body in substantialparallelism with said cutter at the trailing side of the latter, saidconveyor adapted to receive the previously cut mineral dislodged fromthe mine vein and to move the mineral received thereby laterally fromthe machine, means carried by said body for guiding said cutter and saidconveyor for movement along similar adjacent paths relative to themachine-body, and motor operated mechanism carried by said body fordriving said cutter at a relatively high cutting speed and for drivingsaid conveyor at a relatively low conveying speed.

8. In a mining machine of the character set forth in claim 7 whereinsaid motor operated driving mechanism includes driving motorsinterconnected for operation in unison and common to the drive of saidcutter and said conveyor.

9. In a mining machine of the character disclosed, a body movable ineither of opposite directions along the face of a mine vein, a guideframe supported by and projecting from said body and having guideways atits opposite sides, said guide frame having an open center, endless loopchains guided for orbital circulation along said guideways respectivelyand each carrying cutting elements, either of said chains adapted tooperate as a cutter chain or as a conveyor chain depending upon thedirection of movement of said body along the mine face, motors arrangednear the opposite ends of said body for concurrently driving saidchains, and feeding means for the machine comprising relativelyrotatable feeding elements journaled on said body for rotation inrelatively opposite directions and adapted to cooperate withfleX-iblefeeding means whichis anchored at-itsgopposite extremities in. .themine,and meaps.. *for alternately effecting drive of saidmfeeding. elements.to effect feed of said body alongsaidfiexibie. feeding means selectivelyin opposite directions.

10. In a mining machineof thecharacter disclosed, an elongated,relatively narrow body adapted tooperate in the relatively restrictedspace between a long-wall coal face and a face. conveyor arrangedparallel with the face, an endlessloopcutter projecting laterally fromsaid 'body at the .face. side thereof and carrying cutting elements anda breaker device bothtmovable in a vertical orbit, for cutting out acore of coal from a solid coal seam and for dislodging fragments of saidcore as cutting progresses, an endless'loop conveyor carried by saidbody and movable in a vertical orbit of; the same size and shape as saidvertical orbit'of said" loop cutter and projecting laterally from saidbody in parallelism with said cutter at the trailing side of the latterfor conveying the dislodged coal laterally from the coal face todischarge onto said face conveyor.

11. A mining machine of the character set forth in claim wherein saidbody is recessed longitudinally at its outer lower side to provide aspace for receiving a face conveyor whereby said machine conveyor mayproject laterally above the face conveyor in said space, said machineconveyor extending outwardly from the face and upwardly above said faceconveyor.

12. In a mining machine of the characted disclosed, a body movable ineither of opposite directions along the face of a mine vein, anadjustable, generally U-shaped guide frame carried by and projectingfrom said body and comprising relatively adjustable frame portionswhereby the effective height of said guide frame may be varied, saidguide frame providing guideways at its opposite sides and having an opencenter, endless loop chains guided for orbital circulation along saidguideways respectively and each carrying cutting elements, motoroperated means carried by said body for driving either one of saidchains at relatively different speeds whereby either chain may act as acutter chain to cut out a core of mineral from a solid vein or aconveyor chain to convey dislodged mineral depending upon the directionof operation of the machine along the face, means engaging said chainsfor guiding the latter and for maintaining the same under the propertension irrespective of the adjusted height of said guide frame, andmeans for relatively adjusting said frame portions of said guide frameto vary the effective operating height of said cutter and conveyorchains.

13. A mining machine of the character set forth in claim 12 wherein saidmotor operated means includes change speed gearings, one gearingindividual to each chain, whereby either chain may be driven atrelatively different speeds.

14. A mining machine of the character set forth in claim 12 wherein saidmotor operated driving means for said chains includes means for drivingeither chain at a relatively high cutting speed or a relatively low conveying speed.

15. A mining machine of the character set forth in claim 12 wherein saidchains each carry a breaker device for periodically applying breakingdown pressures to the core of mineral cut by the then cutter chain todislodge fragments of such core as cutting progresses, and the thenconveyor chain receives the dislodged mineral fragments and conveys themaway from the face of the mine vein.

167 In a mining machine of the character disclosed, a body movable ineither of opposite directions along the face of a mine vein, a generallyU-shaped guide frame carried by and projecting laterally from said bodysubstantially midway between the ends of the latter, said guide frameproviding guideways at its opposite sides and having an open center,endless loop chains it!) guided for orbital circulation along saidguideways. re: spectively and. each carrying cutting; elements wherebyeither chain may serve as a cutter chain depending on the directionofmovement of-said body along the mine face, and a transposable deflectormember attachable to said body at either side of said guide frame andprojecting in parallelism with. said guide frame at the trailingsidethereof whereby the chain which is inactive as a; cutter chain may serveas a conveyor chain, said deflector member in either ofiits transposedpositions cooperating with the chain which acts as the conveyor chaintoconfine themateri'al to-be conveyed in the path thereof, and means forattaching said deflector member in either ot its transposed positions tosaid body.

17. In a reversible mining machine of the character disclosed, a 'bodymovable in either of opposite directions along the face of a mine vein,a guide frame supported by and projecting from. said body and havingguideways at its opposite sides, said guide frame hav' ing anopen-center, endless'loopchains guided for orbital circulation alongsaid guideways respectively and each carrying cutting elements, eitherof said chains adapted to operate as a cutter chain or a conveyor chaindepending upon the direction of movement of said body along the mineface, and motor operated means for concurrently driving said chainsembodying means for driving the chain which is acting as a cutter chainat a relatively high cutting speed and the chain which is acting as aconveyor chain at a relatively low conveying speed.

18. in a mining machine of the character disclosed, a body movable alongthe face of a mine vein, a movable cutter supported by and projectingfrom said body for cutting the mineral of a solid mine vein, a movableconveyor supported by and projecting from said body in substantialparallelism with said cutter at the trailing side of the latter, saidconveyor disposed to receive the previously cut mineral dislodged fromthe mine vein and to move the mineral received thereby laterally out ofthe machine-path, means carried by said body for guiding said cutter andsaid conveyor for movement along similar adjacent paths lying inparallel vertical orbits, and motor operated mechanism carried by saidbody for driving said cutter at a relatively high cutting speed and fordriving said conveyor at a relatively low conveying speed.

19. In a mining machine of the character disclosed, an elongated,relatively narrow body adapted to operate in the relatively restrictedspace between a longwall coal face and a face conveyor arranged parallelwith the face, an endless loop cutter projecting laterally from saidbody at the face side thereof and carrying cutting elements and abreaker device, for cutting out a core of mineral from a solid mine veinand for di-slodging fragments of said core as cutting progresses, anendless loop conveyor carried by said body and projecting laterallytherefrom in parallelism with said cutter at the trailing side of thelatter for conveying the loose mineral dislodged from the previously-cutface laterally away from the mine face to discharge onto said faceconveyor, said endless loop cutter and said endless loop conveyormovable in parallel vertical orbits which are of the same shape and sizeand have open centers so that said core of mineral may be surrounded bythe cutter and conveyor orbits, said loop conveyor trailing behind saidloop cutter as the machine is advanced along the face, and means fordriving said loop cutter at a relatively fast cutting speed and saidloop conveyor at a relatively slow conveying speed.

20. A mining machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein said chain which isoperating as a cutter chain cuts out a core of mineral, and breakingmeans is provided for periodically applying a breaking pressure to thecore of mineral to dislodge fragments thereof as mining progresses.

21. In a reversible mining machine of the character disclosed, a bodymovable in either of opposite direc- '11 tions along the face of a minevein, a guide frame supported by and projecting from said body andhaving guideways at its opposite sides, said guide frame having an opencenter, endless loop chains guided for orbital circulation along saidguideways respectively and each carrying cutting elements, either ofsaid chains adapted to operate as a cutter chain or as a conveyor chaindepending upon the direction of movement of said body along the mineface, motor operated means carried by said body for concurrently drivingsaid endless loop chains, and feeding means for the machine comprisingrelatively rotatable feeding elements journaled in said body forrotation in relatively opposite directions, flex ible feeding means withwhich said elements cooperate and which is anchored at its oppositeextremities in the mine, and means for alternately efiecting drive ofsaid feeding elements to effect feed of said body along said flexiblefeeding means selectively in opposite directions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,336,039 McCarter Apr. 6, 1920 12 Dillon Aug. 11, Osgood Mar. 6, LevinOct. 14, Logan Nov. 6, Kraft Dec. 17, Moore Mar. 10, Joy Sept. 21, LewisFeb. 6, Lewis Mar. 17, Sheppard Apr. 18, Sproul May 1,

FOREIGN PATENTS Germany July 30, Germany Feb. 23, Great Britain Jan. 22,Great Britain Mar. 15, Great Britain Oct. 5,

